Drop-seat garment



Jan. 14, 1941. @FRANK DROP-SEAT 61111112111 Filed oct. [3o. 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 & vNVENTOR Leopold Hank ATT RNEY Jan. 14, 1941- j L FRANK 2,228,624

' DROP-SEAT GAnuEN'r A Filed Oct. 30. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v .Leopold Frank Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATE-NT `OFFICE DROP-SEAT GArtMENT Leopold Frank, New York, N. Y. Application October 30, 1939, Serial No. 301,926 4 claims. (ci. 2-`227) This invention relates to ladies garments and particularly to the type known as sportwearJ Sportwear for ladies has come into extensive use particularly in warm weather and in the warmer climates. Such sportwear may take the form-of slacks or playsuits or the like garments, including a covering for the middle and lower parts of the body. Such garments as slacks are similar to trousers except that they have no y opening, while playsuits include abbreviated trousers and an integral upper garment part.

When wearing such sportwear, as when traveling or on picnics and the like, where lavatories are not available, it has heretofore been found diflicult without undue exposure of the person to open a particular garment when it becomes necessary to attend to the natural health functions of the body.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of a garment provided with a drop-seat of such construction which may quickly and easily be disengaged from the remainder of the garment when necessary without exposure of the front part of the body and without the necessity for disrobing or for removing the upper part of the garment or associated garment from the upper part of the body. e

My invention further Acontemplates the provision of a pair of ladies slacks or the like garment provided with an adequate slide-operated closure at each side of the garment and with means for supporting the garment about the waist of the wearer while the back of the garment below the waist is dropped, said means including an adjustable belt which remains in position about the waist and a beaded or corded covering ap for the slide-operated interlocking fastener preventing'any possibility or danger of the slide jamming or catching in the edge of the covering iiap and entirely eliminating the delays and embarrassment which might result therefrom.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a garment provided with a waist band which remains in position on the wearer to sup- .15 port the garment while part of the garment is detached from the wearer and with means for supporting the detachable part normally in its operative position, whereby the garment presents the appearance of a similar garment of the usual 50 type.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a garment construction usable in connection with ladies slacks, playsuits, pajamas and the like articles and wherein the entire seat sec- 55 tion down from the waist band may be quickly and easily detached and quickly and easily replaced withoutexposingany part of the front of the body while the remainder of the garmentv is nevertheless supported by the waistband.

My-invention Afurther contemplates the pro-l 5 vision of an'improved fastener coveringap in a garment, preventing the slide of -aslide-operated fastener from catching or jamming in the edge of the flap, and insuring free and easy or fool-lA proof action of the slide at all times.

The various objects of the invention lwill be clear from the description which followsand from the drawings, in which, l

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a pair of ladies slacks to which my invention has been applied.` 15

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sameshowing the seat portion of the garment detached and dropped andshowing the waist band in its normal or garment supporting position. i

Fig. 3 is a rear elevationof the slacks shown 20 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4is a top'plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of my invention 25 as it appears applied to a playsuit.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the same.

Figy8 is a perspective view of the upper part. of a pair of slacks showing a modied form of the invention. 30

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale ofthe side edge portion of the garment, showing the catch-proof and jam-proof beaded or corded edge flap for the slide-operated fastener. 35

Fig. 10 is a horizontal4 section of a modified form of the fastener-covering flap.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line II-II of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken on line I 2-'-|2 of Fig. 10.

In the practical embodiment of (my invention which I have shown in Figs. 1 to 5, as applied to a pair of ladies slacks, the legs I 5 and I6 are of the usual construction being united atthe crotch I1. At the side edges of the garment, however, the side seams I8 and I9 of the respective legs terminate just below the hips, that ls, at a point as 20 and v2|, respectively, opposite each other and the 40 about in horizontal alignment with the crotch l1.

stituting a covering for the front mid-portion of i the body of the wearer. Similarly, the rear portions of the legs are extended and joined by the rear seam 24 to form therear extension of the legs. The pair of adjacent edges of the respective extensions at the sides of the garment are detachably fastened together by suitable slideoperated fasteners. wherebythe front extension Amay be retained in place on the body when the rear extension is detached and dropped. A

Stringer 2,5 of spaced fastener elements is secured to the side edge 26 of the front extension as by -means of the stitching 21, while a cooperating stringer 28 is similarly secured to the corresponding adjacent side edge 29 of the rear extension by the stitching 30. (Figs. 5 and 9 to 12.) The usual slide 3| having the linger tab 32 is mounted on the stringers and serves to open and close the fastener closure in the customary manner.

The other side edge 33 of the front extension carries the stringer 34 cooperating with the stringer 35 on the edge 36 of the rear extension, said stringers being operated by a suitable slide similar to the slide 3l. Each of the stringers 25 and 34 carried by the f-ront extension terminates at its upper end at the lower edge of the front waist band 31, while the stringers 28 and 35 similarly terminate at the lower edge of the rear waistband 38.

Each of the waist bands is preferably made of the same material as the legs I5, IB, the front extension 23 and the rear extensi'on`39. The front waist band 31, however, is not permanently secured to said rear 'extension 39 but is secured only to the upper edge of the front extension 23 just above the upper endsof the stringers 25 and 34. stringers in both directions and then extends rearwardly to form two overlapping end portions and 40 (Fig. 4)

The end portion 45 carries two spaced apart buttons 4| and 42 on the rear face thereof, said buttons passing 'through the correspondingly spaced buttonholes 43 and 44 in the end portion 40 thereby to secure said end portions detachably together about the waist of the wearer regardless of whether the rea'r extension 39 is dropped or not. In 'other words, the front waist band 31 serves to support the garment about the waist ofthe wearer and to maintain the front of the body covere'd wlhen the rear extension 39 is detache'd from the front extension and from the waist band 31 and manipulated.

It will be understood that the number of buttons or other deta'chable securing means between the overlapping end portions 40 and 45 of the front waist band may be varied as desired. For example, in Fig. 8, I have shown the single button 46 carried by the end portion of the front waist band and a single buttonhole on the corresponding overlapping end portion of said waist band, said end portions overlapping only to a slight extent.

The rear extension 39 carries the rear waist band 38 permanently secured thereto at its extreme upper edge, said waist band extending forwardly past the stringers 28 and 35 to form the attaching tabs 41 and 48. Each of said tabs is provided with a buttonhole respectively engaging the buttons 49 and 50 secured to the front waist hand 31. The rear waist band 38 is also provided with additional buttonholes as 5I and 52 spaced apart correspondingly to the bu'ttons 4| and 42-and `cooperating with said buttons to hold the rear extension normaly in place.

It will be understood that the various button- Said waist band continues past said holes are made long enough to permit movement of the buttons therein longitudinally of the waist ban-ds and thereby to adjust the waist band size to some extent when the g-arment is worn by the wearer. Suitalble pockets as 53 may 'be provided in the front portions of `the legs as may be found convenient or desirable.

It will be seen that when the seat or rear extension 39 is to be dropped, t'his'fnay be done quickly and easily by simplyunbuttoning the rear waist 'band 38 and then operating the slides of the slide-operated fasteners to separate the rear extension from the front extension at the side edges of the garment. To secure the seat in position. it is merely raised and the waist band thereof buttoned on to the buttons provided for that purpose while the slides o-f the slide fasteners are operated upwardly to close the side edges of the garment and to connect the extensions together. Since the front waist band always encompasses the waist, exposure of the front part of the wearers body is prevented. It also becomes unnecessary to detach any upper garment part which may be secured to or form an upper continua'tion of the slacks shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein a playsuit is depicted, the front portion of the upper part of the garment is secured to the f-ront of the waist band 31 up to the strlngers 28 and 34. The back of the garment preferably is made of two unsecured pieces 6l and 62 intended to cross each other or to 'be overlapped as shown in Fig. 7 and of sufficient length to permit them to be tucked behin'd the rear part of tlrewaist band 31 and to be detachably secured thereto as by means of suitable buttons as 63 carried by the section-8| and the buttonv 64 carried by the section 52, saiid button 64- passing through a suitable buttonhole in the section 6|, and the buttons 63 and 64 passing through the buttonzholes 65 and 66 in the rear part of the front waist band and through the buttonholes 61 and 68 in the rear waist band. Inthis form of the invention, the garment -is put on 'by stepping into the legs thereof with the back sections 6| and E2 out of the way, after which said sections are' thrown over the shoulders to the rear of the body and tucked underneath the waist band and secured thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 9 t'o 12, I have there shown in detail slide-operated closure means for the front and rear extensions of the garment. Said means is so constructed as to make it impossible for the slide thereof to catch upon an edge of the closure or `slide opening. Great diniculty has heretofore been experienced with slides for interlocking slide-operated fasteners when used on thin fabric such Ias is employed in dresses or other garments in that the slide frequently catches ,an edge portion of the covering ap and becomes jammed, making further operation of the slide in either direction difficult or impossible and leaving the garment open at the closure with c'onsequent embarrassment to the wearer.

It is particularly important that the slideoperated closures for such garment parts as drop-seats or the fly of trousers or the like be so constructed as to operate with certainty, speed and efficiency at all times, It is for that reason that I have designed the covering flap for the slide-operated fastener so that the edge thereof is beaded or corded to provide a completely finished, smooth and rounded edge free of projecting loose threads and of such increased thickness that the slide must remain at all times behind said edge and cannot climb up upon the edge of the flap to catch or jam, or to` wedge the edge between the slide and the stringer. The beaded edge nap further provides an ornamental appearance at the edges of the closure and' because `of the comparative stiiness thereof, as compared to the limp material of the flap, always tends to remain in the position wherein theslide-operated fastener is adequately concealed from view.

To form the covering flap, the material of the garment at the closure is folded on itself to provide an integral edge fold as 10. Inserted between the two thicknesses 'H and 12 of the material and close to the edge-Ill is the elongated cylindrical cord 13. A line of stitching 'I4 is made as close as possible to the cord parallel to the bead of circular cross-section thus formed, and serves adequately to hold the cord tightly in place against shifting. The diameter of the flexible cord 'I3 may be varied as desired depending on the line of stitching 16 which secures the Stringer 11 of one row of interlocking fasteners in place. The stitching 18, however, for the other Stringer 19, is spaced from the beaded edge 10 a distance greater than the combined widths of the interlocking fastener elements so that said elements may be properly covered.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9,1

l1 and 12, both flaps are of identical construction and each extends to a point substantially coincident With the free edge of each corresponding row of fastener elements. Both of the naps cooperate to cover the fastener elements, said flaps tending to assume the position shown at the lower part of Fig. 9 in substantial contact with the fastener elements owing to the comparative stiffness thereof as compared to the limp fabric from which garments are customarily made.

It will be noted that regardless of how the beaded edges are distorted, it becomes impossible for the slide to catch on said edge during operation thereof and that all possibility of jamming of the slide is consequently eliminated, the thickness of the bead being greater than the combined thicknesses of the material of the flap.

It will further be seen that I have provided a simple though eiicient fastener covering structure in a garment which renders the operation of the slide of the fastener sure, quick and eilicient regardless o f the distorted positions assumed by the edges of the garment closure and that I have provided a structure well adapted to meet the severe requirements of practical use.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, but intend to claim the invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior'art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A garment comprising a'pair of legs having front and rear upward extensions to cover the mid-portion of the body, a front central seam securing the adjacent edges of the front extensions together, a rear central seam forthe rear extenand terminating in overlapping free end partseach extending past the rear seam at the rear of the garment, means including cooperating buttons and button holes on the free end parts detachably securing said free end parts together against the'body of the wearer and inside of the hereinafter mentioned rear-,waist band, said garment being open at each of its side edges from a point just below the waist band to a point opposite the crotch of said legs, a side seam extending from said last-mentioned point along each of the legs to the lowermost end of each leg, and in alignment with said side edges, means for detachably securing together the adjacent side edges in contacting edge abutment and in alignment with' said side'seam, a continuous, uninterrupted, additional rear waist band on` the upper edge of and of the same material as the rear extensions quickly detachable from and attachable to the rear outside face of the front waist band seams to engage said button holes, said rear waist band having additional button holes to engage the buttons on the overlapping free end parts of the front waist band whereby the rear part of the front waist band remains in place on the wearer when the rearxwaist band is unbuttoned from the front waist band and the rear'extensions are dropped.

`2. A garmentl comprising a pair of legs`united.

to form a crotch, said garment being open at the hip covering portion of its side edges, a front upward extension on the legs, a similar rear extension on the legs, said extensions normally. covering the mid-portion of the body of the wearerv and each having a central vertical seam therein, a waist band part on and permanently secured to each extension of the same material as that of the remainder of said extension, the front waist band part continuing rearwardly` past the side edges of the garment and terminating in free overlapping end portions at the rear of the garment, said end portions constituting a holding means to hold the front extensions in place independently of the manipulation of the rear extension, the rear waist band part continuing forwardly for a limited distance past said side edges and terminating in spaced free ends adjacent the respective side edges, a pair of buttons on the outer face of the front waist band each entering a buttonhole in one of the spaced free ends of the rear. waistband to maintain the rear extension normally in place, a buttonon one of said free overlapping end portions of the rear waist band entering a buttonhole in the other overlapping end portion and also entering another buttonhole on the rear waist band to secure said overlapping ends together and also to maintain the front extension in place on the body and inside of the rear waist band, said rear Waist band part normally covering and concealing the overlapping ends of the front waist band part and being removable 7 ing overlapping free end portions, a rear waist band on the rear extension having free ends extending forwardly past the side edges, cooperating buttons and button holes on the waist bands detachably securing the free ends of the rear waist band to the front waist band, and additional cooperating buttons and button holes on the waist bands detachably securing the overlapping free end portions of the front waist band together and also to the rear waist band with the rear waist band outside of the front waist band, and thereby completely concealing the rear portion of the front waist band to the rear of the free ends of the rear waist band, and permitting unbuttoning and lowering of the rear extension and of the rearv waist band as a unit independently of the front extension.

4. In a garment having legs and a crotch, a front extension and a rear extension each projecting upwardly from the legs, each of said extensions having side edges separable Afrom the corresponding side edges of the other extension, a front waist band on the front extension extending past said side edges and having end portions overlapping at the rear of the garment and detachably securable together to maintain said frontl extension in place on the body independently of the manipulation of the rear extension, a rear Waist band on the rear extension having forwardly extendingtlaps detachably securable to the front waist band adjacent said side edges,

and means at the rear of the garment for detach-- LEOPOLD FRANK. 

